Drinking fountain



p 11, 1951 K. E. BECKLEY DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed Nov. 22, 1949 A r K N\ RN I X W \m my @Hm wN R I N in INVENTOR- KENNETH E. BECKLEY ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRINKING FOUNTAIN Kenneth E. Beckley, Baldwin Park, Calif.

Application November 22, 1949, Serial No. 128,713

4 Claims.

This invention relates to drinking fountains, and more particularly to an automatic, cup controlled drinking fountain for use by livestock.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved drinking fountain which is automatically maintained full of water, but Will not overflow, in which the Water flow controlling elements are protected from dirt and debris and are so constructed as to practically eliminate leakage, which utilizes the water pressure in the water supply line to seat the water control valve thereof, and which is provided as a complete unit for attachment to a water supply pipe, is particularly easy to install, is positive and sensitive in operation, and is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and usable by various kinds of livestock, such as poultry, cows, horses and goats.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal medial cross section of a drinking fountain illustrative of the invention, and a fragmentary portion of awater supply pipe on which the fountain is mounted;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross section on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross section similar to Figure l of a fragmentary portion of the drinking fountain showing the parts in a different operative position from that illustrated in Fi ure 1.

With continued reference to the drawing, the

improved drinking fountain comprises, in general, a tapered plug Ill threadable into the upper end of a vertically disposed water supply pipe II, an outer cup or bowl [2 mounted on the larger end of the plug Ill and extending upwardly therefrom, an inner cup or bowl I3 circumspatially disposed in the outer cup l2, an annular ring i l mounted on the outer cup at the rim thereof and overlying the rim of the inner cup, a tubular stem l5 secured at its upper end to the inner cup and extending downwardly through a blind bore in the plug Iii, a valve assembly I5 mounted in a valve hole in the plug I!) for operation by the stem l5, and a split ring H seated in an annular groove in the plu [0 and overlying the outer end of the valve assembly It to maintain this assembly in operative position in the plug.

The water supply pipe I I may be an ordinary piece of iron water pipe extending upwardly from a water line or main, not illustrated, and provided at its open upper end with internal screw threads.

The tapered plug I0 is provided with external screw threads [8 threadable into the internal screw threads of the supply pipe H and is so dimensioned that they diameter of its larger end is somewhat greater than the internal diameter of the supply pipe, while the diameter of its smaller end is somewhat less than the internal diameter of the supply pipe, so that water in the supply pipe can flow upwardly past the smaller end of the plug to the valve assembly IS. The smaller end of the plug is positioned materially below the upper end of the supply pipe, and the contact area of the pipe and plug threads is sufficient to firmly mount the plug in the pipe so that the inner and outer cups l2 and 13 will be supported against displacement when used by livestock. At its upper end the plug is provided with a hexagonal or other noncircular portion IQ for receiving a wrench by means of which the plug is firmly screwed into the upper endof the supply pipe.

The bore 20 in the plug is preferably disposedsubstantially coaxially with the longitudinal center line of the plug and extends longitudinally of the plug from the larger end of the latter to a location adjacent the smaller end, the lower end of the bore adjacent the smaller end of the plug being closed by a plug portion 2|.

An externally screw threaded boss 22 extends outwardly from the larger end of the plug surrounding the bore 20 and this boss is provided at diametrically opposite sides with notches 23 and 24.

The outer cup I2 is a thin walled bowl-shaped member having a centrally disposed, flat bottom wall 25' provided with two substantially semicircular apertures which receive the portions of the boss 22 at the opposite sides of a boss diameter extending through the notches 23 and 24, and are separated by a narrow bridge member 26 which extends through the notches 23 and 24 and across the open upper end of the bore 20. This outer cup is firmly secured on the larger end of the plug ID by a nut 21 threaded onto the The inner cup I3 is somewhat hemispherical in shape and is smaller than the outer cup [2 to provide a water receiving space of substantially uniform thickness between the two cups. A hollow knob 4! extends inwardly of the inner cup [3 at the center of the latter, and the upper end of the tubular stem I5 is received in this knob with a close fit to frictionally attach the inner cup to the stem. The annular ring [4 has an outer marginal flange 28 which overlies and frictionally engages the outer surface of the outer cup i 2 at the rim of the latter, an inner marginal flange 29 extending downwardly within, but out of contact with the inner cup 13, and a flat annular portion 30 extending between the flanges 28 and 29. This ring precludes the entry of foreign matter into the space between the outer and inner cups and from this space to the water controlling valve mechanism of the device.

The tubular stem I5 is slidable in the bore 20 of the plug and is provided at its upper end with two elongated diametrically opposed slots 3| and v 32 which receive the bridge portion 26 of the outer cup l2. Upward movement of this tubular stem is limited by contact of the bottom ends of these slots with the bridge portion 26 of the outer cup I2, and the length of these slots is such that the upward movement of the stem is limited to an extent such that the valve assembl I6 will not become disengaged from the stem.

Near its smaller end the plug [0 is provided with a valve hole 33 which extends radially from the bore 20 near the lower closed end of the latter to the exterior of the plug and is provided. in its outer end, with a counterbore providing at the inner end of the counterbore an annular shoulder 34 which constitutes a valve seat. The valve assembl It comprises an elongated pin 35 extending through the valve hole 33 and across the bore 2!! and having at its end remote from the bore a head 36, and a valve washer 3'! of a suitable material such as fibre or rubber, surrounding the pin adjacent the head 36 and seated by the water pressure in the supply pipe I l against the valve seat shoulder 34. The tubular stem is provided in the side thereof adjacent the valve hole 33 with an elongated slot 38 extending from the lower end of the stem to a location somewhat above the valve hole 33 and is provided in its diametrically opposite side with an aperture 39 which loosely receives the adjacent end of the pin 35, the end of the pin opposite the head 35 being slightly spaced from the adjacent surface of the bore 20.

The aperture 39 is spaced from th adjacent lower end of the stem a distance such that when the lower end of the stem is in contact with the closed lower end of the bore 20, as illustrated in Figure 1, the valve pin 35 will be disposed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the annular valve seat shoulder 34, and the washer 31 will be firmly seated on the shoulder to preclude any flow of water from the supply pipe H into the bore through the valve hole 33. Under these conditions the bottom ends of the slots 3| and 32 in the upper end of the stem are spaced below the bridge portion 26 of the outer bowl I2. This corresponds to the operating condition in which both the outer bowl and the inner bowl are filled with water, and the inner bowl is sunk in the water in the outer bowl by the weight of the Water contained in the inner bowl. The drinking fountain is then filled with water and ready for use.

When water is used from the inner bowl the buoyancy of this inner bowl is increased until it floats on the water in the outer bowl, raising the stem l5. When the stem I5 is raised, it tilts the valve assembly pin upwardly and cocks the valve washer 31 relative to the valve seat shoulder 34, as illustrated in Figure 4, thereby opening the valve and permitting water to flow through the valve from the water supply pipe ll through the valve hole 33, the slot 38 and aperture 39 into the tubular stem l5, out of the tubular stem through the slots 3| and 32 into the space between the outer and inner bowls l2 and I3 and from this space over the rim of the inner bowl to the interior of the latter. When sufficient water has been supplied to the inner bowl to cause the latter to sink, the valve will be again closed, cutting ofi the supply of water to the outer and inner bowls or cups.

An annular groove 46 is provided around the plug I!) at the location of the outer end of the valve hole 33, and a split spring ring I! is seated in this groove and overlies the outer surface of the head 36 of the valve pin 35. This spring prevents accidental loss of the valve assembly from the plug when the plug is removed from the water supply pipe I l, and also assists the water pressure in the supply pipe in firmly seating the valve washer against the valve seat shoulder 34.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the

scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic drinking fountain comprising a tapered plug having external screw threads threadable into the upper end of a vertically disposed water supply pipe, said plug having a bore extending longitudinally from its larger end to a location adjacent its smaller end and a valve hole extending substantially perpendicularly from said bore to the exterior of said plug near the smaller end of the latter, the smaller end of said plug being smaller than the inside of the water supply pipe to permit water from said pipe to flow into said valve hole, an annular shoulder in said valve hole providing a valve seat, a valve pin extending through said valve hole and across said bore and having a head on the end thereof remote from said bore, a valve washer surrounding said valve pin adjacent said head and seated by water pressure in the supply pipe against said internal shoulder, an externally screw threaded boss on the larger end of said plug surrounding said bore and having two diametrically opposed notches therein, an outer cup having in its bottom wall apertures receiving the portions of said boss at respectively opposite sides of said notches, a nut threadable on said boss securing said outer cup on the larger end of said plug, a tubular stem slidably mounted in said bore and having near one end apertures receiving said valve pin and at its opposite end slots receiving the portion of said outer cup between the boss receiving apertures in the latter so that said stem extends upwardly through such apertures, an inner cup disposed in said outer cup and having a hollow knob therein receiving the upper end of said stem, said inner cup when empty being floatable on water in said outer cup to raise said stem and thereby cock said valve pin and washer to admit water into said cups until said inner cup is filled sufficiently to sink and lower said stem permitting said valve washer to seat, movement of said stem being limited downwardly by the contact of the bottom end of the stem with the closed bottom end of the plug bore and upwardly by contact of the bottom ends of said slots with the portion of said outer cup between the boss receiving apertures therein.

2. An automatic drinking fountain comprising a tapered plug having external screw threads threadable into the upper end of a vertically disposed water supply pipe, said plug having a bore extending longitudinally from its larger end to a location adjacent its smaller end and a valve hole extending substantially perpendicularly from said bore to the exterior of said plug near the smaller end of the latter, the smaller end of said plug being smaller than the inside of the water supply pipe to permit water from said pipe to flow into said valve hole, an annular shoulder in said valve hole providing a valve seat, a valve pin extending through said valve hole and across said bore and having a head on the end thereof remote from said bore, a valve washer surrounding said valve pin adjacent said head and seated by water pressure in the supply 'pipe against said internal shoulder, an externally screw threaded boss on the larger end of said plug surrounding said bore and having two diametrically opposed notches therein, an outer cup having in its bottom wall apertures receiving the portions of said boss at respectively opposite sides of said notches, a nut threadable on said boss securing said outer cup on the larger end of said plug, a tubular stem slidably mounted in said bore and having near one end apertures receiving said valve pin and at its opposite end slots receiving the portion of said outer cup between the boss receiving aperture in the latter so that said stem extends upwardly through such r apertures, an inner cup disposed in said outer cup and having a hollow knob therein frictionally receivin the upper end of said stem, said inner cup when empty being floatable on water in said outer cup to raise said stem and thereby cock said valve pin and washer to admit water into said cups until said inner cup is filled sufficiently to sink and lower said stem permitting said valve washer to seat, movement of said stem being limited downwardly by the contact of the bottom end of the stem with the closed bottom end of the plug bore and upwardly by contact of the bottom ends of said slots with the "portion of said outer cup between the boss receiving apertures therein, said plug having an annular groove therearound at the location of the outer end of said valve hole, and a split resilient ring seated in said groove and contacting the head of said valve pin to assist the water pressure in the supply 'pipe in seating said valve washer against the valve seat shoulder.

3. A drinking fountain comprising a tapered plug having therein a longitudinally extending bore open to the larger end of said plug and closed at the smaller end of the latter and a valve hole extending radially of said plug from said bore near the closed end of the latter to the exterior of said plug, a valve seat in said valve hole, a valve assembly in said valve hole cooperating with said seat to control the flow of water through said valve hole into said bore, a stem extending through said bore and connected at one end with said valve assembly to operate the latter, an outer cup secured on said plug at the larger end of the latter and having an aperture therein through which said stem extends, an inner cup circumspatially disposed in said outer cup and frictionally secured to said stem, said inner cup when empty being buoyant in water in said outer cup to raise such stem and operate said valve assembly to admit water through said valve hole and said plug bore to said cups and when filled being nonbuoyant to lower said stem and operate said valve assembly to preclude flow of water to said cups.

4. A drinking fountain comprising a tapered plug having therein a longitudinally extending bore open to the larger end of said plug and closed at the smaller end of the latter and a valve hole extendin radially of said plug from said bore near the closed end of the latter to the exterior of said plug, a valve seat in said valve hole, a Valve assembly in said valve hole cooperating with said seat to control the flow of water through said valve hole into said bore, a stem extending through said bore and connected at one end with said valve assembly to operate the latter, an outer cup secured on said plug at the larger end of the latter and having an aperture therein through which said stem extends, an inner cup circumspatially disposed in said outer cup and secured to said stem, said inner cu'p when empty being buoyant in water in said outer cup to raise such stem and operate said valve assembly to admit water through said valve hole and said plug bore to said cups when filled being nonbuoyant to lower said stem and operate said valve assembly to preclude flow of water to said cups, and means limiting movement of said stem longitudinally of said plug bore to the range of operative movement of said valve assembly.

KENNETH E. BECKLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,253,941 Copeland Jan. 15, 1918 2,336,120 Null Dec. '7, 1943 2,452,305 Johnson Oct. 26, 1948 

